2008 Woodie Awards
Rattling the Ramblers
UIC volleyball maintains first place in Horizon League with 3-game sweep of Loyola
Andrew Smothers
Issue date: 10/16/06 Section: Sports
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Media Credit: Rob FreemanNo. 7 Katarina Nedeljikovic led UIC volleyball passed Loyola with 17 kills. With the win, the Flames (13-11, 6-1) maintained their first place status in the Horizon League.
On Red-Out night at the Flames Athletic Center last Friday, the UIC volleyball team (13-11) scorched city-rival Loyola, sweeping the Ramblers in 3 games (30-22, 30-24, 20-21) and maintaining first place in the Horizon League.
In front of a boisterous crowd, the Flames overpowered Loyola, as junior Katarina Nedeljikovic led the way with 17 kills and senior setter Katie Kozak paced the victory with 41 assists. This marked the second victory over Loyola this season, after the Flames defeated Loyola in five games at the Chicagoland Classic on Aug. 26.
The Flames came out strong in the first game, opening up a 6-1 lead and forcing the Ramblers into 10 errors on the way to a 30-22 win. The second game featured 7 Nedeljikovic kills, as UIC posted an outstanding .319 attack percentage, en route to a 30-24 victory. Two big UIC blocks highlighted the third and final game, as freshman Lana Lobdell recorded 4 of her 9 kills, boosting her attack percentage to a career-high .538, as the Flames wrapped up the Ramblers 30-21.
This marked the first time the Flames have defeated Loyola in three games since Coach Nancy Mueller took over the program.
"It's always a dog-fight with this team," said Mueller. "It's a cross-town rival, they always show up to play, so this feels good for us."
The Flames put together what may have been their most impressive and most balanced home victory of the season, as the team received great contributions from Nedeljikovic, Lobdell, Kozak, senior Ambria Springer (13 kills), junior Amanda Kenny (11 kills), and the entire backline.
With her 41 assists, Kozak put herself just 50 assists shy of the all-time UIC record of 4,178, held by former Flame Erica Anderson.
The offense recorded a .301 attack percentage, and the defense corrected its only weakness, net blocking, after the second game.
"It was good," said Mueller, "because we hadn't been blocking too well early on, and that was one of the things in [halftime], we said, 'Hey let's block a few more balls.' We got a lot more disciplined in that last game."
The Flames improved their Horizon League best record to 6-1, pushing Loyola down to 4-3 in conference play. The Red Out game featured the UIC Cheerleaders, the Dancing Flames, and plenty of rowdy fans of all ages.
"It was really nice to see," said Nedeljikovic, after excited children seeking autographs mobbed the team.
The Flames travel to Butler and Wright State this weekend, before returning for the final two-game home stand of the season against Horizon league foes Cleveland State and Youngstown State on Friday, October 27 and Saturday the 28, respectively.
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In front of a boisterous crowd, the Flames overpowered Loyola, as junior Katarina Nedeljikovic led the way with 17 kills and senior setter Katie Kozak paced the victory with 41 assists. This marked the second victory over Loyola this season, after the Flames defeated Loyola in five games at the Chicagoland Classic on Aug. 26.
The Flames came out strong in the first game, opening up a 6-1 lead and forcing the Ramblers into 10 errors on the way to a 30-22 win. The second game featured 7 Nedeljikovic kills, as UIC posted an outstanding .319 attack percentage, en route to a 30-24 victory. Two big UIC blocks highlighted the third and final game, as freshman Lana Lobdell recorded 4 of her 9 kills, boosting her attack percentage to a career-high .538, as the Flames wrapped up the Ramblers 30-21.
This marked the first time the Flames have defeated Loyola in three games since Coach Nancy Mueller took over the program.
"It's always a dog-fight with this team," said Mueller. "It's a cross-town rival, they always show up to play, so this feels good for us."
The Flames put together what may have been their most impressive and most balanced home victory of the season, as the team received great contributions from Nedeljikovic, Lobdell, Kozak, senior Ambria Springer (13 kills), junior Amanda Kenny (11 kills), and the entire backline.
With her 41 assists, Kozak put herself just 50 assists shy of the all-time UIC record of 4,178, held by former Flame Erica Anderson.
The offense recorded a .301 attack percentage, and the defense corrected its only weakness, net blocking, after the second game.
"It was good," said Mueller, "because we hadn't been blocking too well early on, and that was one of the things in [halftime], we said, 'Hey let's block a few more balls.' We got a lot more disciplined in that last game."
The Flames improved their Horizon League best record to 6-1, pushing Loyola down to 4-3 in conference play. The Red Out game featured the UIC Cheerleaders, the Dancing Flames, and plenty of rowdy fans of all ages.
"It was really nice to see," said Nedeljikovic, after excited children seeking autographs mobbed the team.
The Flames travel to Butler and Wright State this weekend, before returning for the final two-game home stand of the season against Horizon league foes Cleveland State and Youngstown State on Friday, October 27 and Saturday the 28, respectively.
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